Apparatus for drilling wells



July 3950 M. L. NATLAND ETAL 2,514,585

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed oct. 25, 1946 61 n Ii 2f/32 .l i. l ll @VEA/Top5: /VANLE-Y L. NAT/ AND HOWARD A. 7Y/.OR 5y THEIR '177mmPatented July 1l, 1950 APPARATUS FOB. DRILLING WELLS Manley L..Nauanaand Howard A. Tay1oi,.Long' Beach, Calif.; said Taylor assignor to`Lester Callahan Application october 25, 1946,*seria-1No. 105,610

15 Claims.

Our invention lrelates to well .drilling and, more vvparticularly to anovel idrilling apparatus suited to -obtain core sections duringcontinued -drilling 'and/or a residual Yor -lamentary core uponwithdrawal oi the drilling `bit for inspection, repair, or replacement.

AThe present invention contemplates cutting into the earth in lanannularzone to leave a-central -core portion which is maximized inlength ,by being progressively .disintegrated into `core particles, andit is van object of the invention to provide an improved drillingstructure of the type shown in .the .copending application of vI-IowardA. Taylor Serial No. 705,691, filed Oct. 25,

By the term disintegrating, `We ,have reference to a subdivision of thecentral .core portion into core particles, irrespective v of the size.thereof. As :pointed out in .the application supra, such vcoreparticles vmay .be relatively small sand-like or .cutting-.likeparticles, as when the core portion is substantially `completelydisintegrated, `.or they may 'be in the vfor-rn of larger masses, hereinafter .termed core sections, which are severed,

broken, `or otherwise removed from the central core portion, beingv 'ofsubstantial size but. representing more than arriere temporarilycompacted mass of cuttings from abit. `Such core specimens give,particularly valuable data .concerning subterranean strata includinggeological age, slope and character of subterranean strata, etc.

The .present inventioncontemplates that the core particles, .resultingvfrom the progressive disintegration of the -central core portion duringcontinued drillingshall be discharged to the exinto a column of fluidmoving upward in the well. For examplait is `common practice t0 Adrillwells by use of a rotary bit during the time that a 'high-densitydrilling mud is forced into the zone i the lcuttersto carry upward inthe' portion .preferably .takes place a substantial but terior of thedrilling kstructure and preferably constant distance above the -cuttingelements,

whereby the lower end of such acentral passage .contains a lamentarycore. vBy use of the present invention, this COre .can be severed ordetached from the earths strata preparatory to Ylifting the drillingstructure, and can be car- .a residual lamentary .core from a heavy dutydrilling structure .when withdrawn from the well.

Another .object is to provide anyeasily -removable internal structurewhich-carries such a residual core, this internal structure .beingdesigned to facilitate removal of the residual core ,therefrom.

yFurther Aobjects and advantages .of the .invention will be evidentvfrom Ythe following description of exemplaryemhodiments.

Referring to the drawings: f

Fig. 1 is a utility view, showing diagrammatically well drillingequipment employing Vone -form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional yiewof the drilling structure ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of(Fig. 2 and Fig. iis a bottom 'View Aof the drilling .amc` ture of Fig.2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the invention is shown as being used.to drill va well or bore I0 in the earth to penetrate strata suggested`at Il, a portion of the well being -shown cased `by a casing I2. Aderrick floor l3 carries theusual rotary drilling 'table M tnrned bylasuitable ypower source, notY shown, to rotate `a drill column I 6formed of Vsections of drill pipe If'l coupled by joints |48. At theupperv end of the drill column 1 6 is the usual swivelrZythe'loweringofthe drill column being controlledby the position of a travelling block2| connected to the swivel 'through a ban 22. The upper end of the anucolumn lis ysupplied with Sa `iiuid, such as 'a highdensity drillingmud, to ymove downward therethrough and carry the cuttings upward infthewell. This `rfluid may be supplied at high pressure and veryconsiderable Volume through hose 23 and pipe v24 by akcirculating pump25,.

The drilling structure 30 of the inventionis lsecured tothe lower end.of the drill .column L6, as by a collar 3|. Essentially, thedrillingstruc'- ture 30 includes a bit 32 and adrivo .unit 33, hereshown as a drill collar or sub 34 detachably connected to the (collar3l.

The bit 32 is shown as including a body 35 having a depending head 36having a central opening 31. The body 35 has two diametrically oppositearms 38 and two additional diametrically opposite arms 39. In the spacebetween each of the arms 38 and the depending head 36 is aperipherally-toothedfrusto-conical gage cutter 46 rotating on a suitablepin, not shown, extending between the arms and the head. Similarly, inthe space between each arm 39 and the depending head 36 is aperipherally-toothed frusto-conical mill cutter 4|, similarly journalledonapin',

4 to facilitate the cutting action and remove cuttings. Similarly,high-pressure drilling mud or other uid may flo-w from the chamber 56through four small passages 51, respectively directed toward the upperportions of thecutters 40 and 4| to wash the cuttings therefrom andfacilitate the cuttingaction thereof. l As inthe usual practice, suchdrilling :mud or other fluid rises in the well I0 around the drillingstructure 30, as indicated ,by arrows 58, carrying the cuttings to thesurface of the ground where the fluid and its associated cuttingsdischarge through a pipe 56v into not shown. The innermost. portions .ofthe two mill cutters 4| are preferably spaced a'distance substantiallycorresponding to the diameter of the central opening 31, as best shownin Fig. 4. As the bit 32 turns, the cutters 40, 4| rotate-Son theirrespective pins and revolve relative tothe central axis A-A of the bit,which axis vcoincides with the axisof the central opening 31. Duringrotation of the bit 32, the cutters 40 and 4| cut into the earth in anouter annular zone, the gage 'cutters Y40 deepening the bore in theouter portion of such zone and determining the well diameter, ywhile themill cutters 4| cut into the earth in the inner portion of such outerannular zone and, in the @absence of other cutting elements, would leavelacore portion of a diameter substantially equal to thatrof the centralopening 31..

WIn this embodiment of the invention, addition- `al core-cutting meansis provided, comprising a core-cutting element 45 detachably extending'into the central opening 31. The loweroend of thiscore-cutting elementprovides teeth 46 which terminate opposite or somewhat above or below`the lower portions of the cutters 4|), 4|. These teeth are disposedaround a central passage l1 'of the core-cutting elementd and cut intothe "earth in an inner Aannular zone within the previously mentionedouter annular zone to leave a centralcore portion 50 which extendsupward in thecentralpassage 41.

The core-cutting element 45 is detachably connected tothe body in anyYsuitable manner.. As shown, the lower end of the depending head 36yprovides diametrically opposite-cavities 5|, and the core-cuttingelement carries arms 52 extending snugly therein and retained bypins-53. The upper end of thecore-cutting element 45 ,comprises a-neck54 extending into the central .opening 3'|.. Y A

The. inner surface of this opening 31 preferably cooperates withftheouter surface of theV neck .54.. vto provide a downwardly-directedvpassage vmeans for jettingdrilling mud or other fluid at Ihigh velocitytoward the bottom ofthe well, pref- .erablynear -the junction oftheinner and outer .annular rzones, respectively penetrated byv the.teeth 46 and-by the cutters 40, 4|. In the prelBf) ferredconstruction,.the inner wall ofthe central opening 31 iscylindrical andengages snugly the" outerwall of theneck ,54. However, this v"outer.wall .provides longitudinal grooves around its.'periphery,..theselgrooves facing the wall of the v.centrallopening-.31and cooperatingtherewith in defining a plurality of passages 55, best shown in Fig..4.4 .The upper ends of these passages communicate with achamber 56 ofthe bit so that the drilling mud v-cr other uid in this chamberhydraulic mining, lor by directing the cutting g..

fluid in the immediate vicinity of the teeth 4.6

a sump 60. y

lThe sub 34, forming the drive unit of this embodiment of the invention,provides an externally-threaded neck 6| threaded into a cavity 62 of thebit. AThe uppermost end of the sub 34 is suitably connected to thecollar 3| or to some other element of the drill column I6. As shown, theupper end of the sub includes a threaded neck 63 :threadedly received bythe collar 3|. In the present invention, the sub 34 is preferably formedas a massive tubular member relatively easy to fabricate and providing alongitudinal passage 64 through which mud or other fluidmay ow to thechamber 56 under high pressure.

The invention provides' a means for progressively disintegrating thecentral core portion 5I) at a position within the drilling structure 30,and preferably within the drive unit 33. The preferred embodiment of thepresent invention contemplates the *use of a structure for subjectingthecentralv core portion ,50 to bending stresses, e. g; by providingrran axially curved core passage means along which the central coreportion 50 is lmoved to 'break core sections from the centralcoreportion; A preferred structure of this type is'obest shown in Fig.2. o v

.Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the central pas sage Y41 iscounterbored to receive the lower end of a tubular member 65 traversingthe chamber `56 and of an internal size slightly larger than the centralcore portion 50. In this respect, the central passage 414 may be steppedin size at an intermediate. position, as suggested in Fig. 2, and itslower end may be of slightly smaller diameter than the interior of thetubular member 65.

Telescoping with' the upper end of the tubular member 65 and coaxialwith the axis A-A is a straight tubular member 61 cooperating with theItubular member 65 to define acore-receiving passage 68 which ispreferably somewhat larger in diameter than the'core portion 56. Ifdesired, the lower end of the tubular member 61 may be slightly enlargedto receive the tubular member .65, as shown, it being` desirabletoremploy a tele- '.scoping connectionbetween the 'tubular members65and. 61. VThe junction between these members .can be .relatively snug4or somewhat loose. AIn the latter event someof the drilling lmudl orother cutting fluidmay move from the chamber 56 between the telescopingmembers and `into the core-receiving passage 68.' Such drill- Ving mudor -other fluid reaches the chamber 56 `by flow Ythrough an annularfluid-conducting space 69 within the longitudinal passage 64 out- ;sidethe tubular member 61.

' `The drill collar or sub 34,v comprising the drive unit in 1 thisembodiment, is usually relatively long, typically '7 ft. or more,whereby a relatively vlong section of the core portion 50 may becontained in the core-receiving passage 68.

. .The invention contemplates .the use of a novel l disintegratingVmeans for disintegrating the core portion rising'above the upper' endofthe tubufiar member 6111. It .contemplates also that the :upper lendoflthe tubular-member.61*shall be removably connected-to suchdisintegrating means 'so that the tubular member '61, with-its retainedcore portion, can ybe withdrawn from .the drill collar 314 and thisycore `portion subsequently lremoved from 'the tubular member.

Asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3 lthe drive unit, here vshown as the drillcollar or sub v34, provides an opening 1i! which extends 'from thelongitudinal passage 64 to the exterior of the drill collar. 'In vthisopening is mounted a box-like exit unit 1 2 shown as comprisingsidewallsf13 with a heavy bottom Wall 14 anda sloping or curved wall'15, extending therebetween'and-welded thereto. 'The curved wall 1:5extends from'aposition above the rising core `portion 50 to a positionwithin `the opening 10. The wallsof the exit unit 1,2 cooper'ate inden'ing a chamber 16 vhaving an -exit opening 11 shown as substantiallyrectangular -in shape and opening on the side of the drill collar orsubtil. 'The box-'like eXit unit 12 maybe integral `with or suitablyfixed to the drill colla:` or sub 34 randshould-not completely blockthe'longitudinal passage '64 so as to provide a passage means 'fordownward fiow of the mud or cutting uid'to-the fluid-conducting `space69. As shown, vthis exit unit is vseparately assembled and then weldedin the opening 1l), as by being welded around'aperipheralportion 18.

The upper endV of the tubular member 61 is removably connected to theexit unit 12 as by being slidably extended into or threaded in anopening 8i) ofthe bottom wall 14. The threaded connection is illustratedand, to facilitate un- `screwing of the tubular member 61, its'lowe'rend provides notches 8| into which a suitable tool can To guide thetubular member 61 in its attachment and to substantially 'center it inthe vlongitudinal passage 64, we prefer to use a spider-like guide shownas including upper .and lower sets of radial arms .t2 extending from thetubular member 51 y'into c'loseadjacency to the inner wall of thelongitudinal .passage B4.

As the drilling structure .30 rotates, the bt32 will cut into the vearthin an `annular ,zone Vand the upstanding core portion 50 will rise inthe core passage ,63, rusually while still .affixed to the earth. Thiscore .portion will be stationary relative to the now-turning exit unit1,2. However,

`if the core portion U has, for some reason, been l.core portion isrotating with the drive Iunit, forcing same .against the .cunvedfwall 15willapply a lbending stress .in adirection toward the aexit opening 11.-Depending ipartiallyupon vthe `'char-- acter -of the :core portion 59,'this :disintegration will lbe vintofcore -particles Vof va size varyingfrom minute subdivisions lof the'corep'ortion tosizable 'core sections.A11n drilling through hard -for-mations, sizable chunks forming the coresections are broken rfrom the'core portion'SlL usually along naturalcleavage planes, one such core section being indicated'at 83. Such-core-sectionsforfparlticles vare formed, in the present invention, fin therelatively large chamber 18 and are discharged into the risingmud-stream through the relatively Ilarge exit opening 11, thus`minimizing vverosive action Suchaswould take place vif the core sectionl83 were lgraciually extruded .sidewise from' :the drill collar or subSli.

The core particles, whether they be small or 'in the form of core'sections, are carried upwardly to the surface of the ground `with therising mud stream .and can 4be discharged through the pipe '58 onto ayscreen 85. Adhering mud can be washed therefrom 'by a spray 86. Suchcore sections give an accurate indication of the character of theformation being penetrated, theslope of this formation, 'and `muchyother information apparent to a .skilled `geologist or paleontologistas to the age and oil-bearing possibilities of the strata beingpenetrated. n i

'One 'of the important features of the present invention yis Athat Yaresidual core vportion remains lin the -core "passage @it when Athe bit-is raised -for inspection, repair or replacement. As pointedout in lthevapplication supra,v vvarious means may be `used for severing thecentral corefiportion from the earth, vpreferably- -at Aa positionadjacent `the bottom of the'vbore preparatory-to -removalof the bit fromthe well. Such severa-nce `can be effected by rstopping the circulationof drilling mud while continuing to rotate the bit rapidly, often Withsubstantially 'increased 'cutting pressure applied to the bit.This"burns in the core portion, causing it'to 4wedge tightly inthecentral passage 4'! of the bit and eau-sing severance from the earthsstrata. Thereafter, the residual core portion'can be raised to 'thesurface of the ground with the bit.

n When vit is desired to remove this residual core portion from tnedrilling 'structure 3D the bit 32 .is unscrewed from the drive'unit 33and the-tubular member drawn from its telesco-ping relationship with thetubular member 61. A-suitable tool is inserted in the notches 8i and theentire tubular member 61 unscrewed 4from lthe opening im of the.bottom'wall 14; The residual core portion 'is thenforced from thetubular `member 61.

"Thel straightness of this tubular member facilitates :the removal ofthe core portion without breakage. In addition, lthis residual coreportion .oanbe made substantially as Along as desired due to 'the 'factthat the tubular member 161 is not limited 'in 'length by lbends or.structural features.

"Various changes and .modiiications can be made vwithout departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.l

We claim as our invention:

1.4.App-arzatus for drilling into the earth with a .rotary bit providingmeans `for cutting into the earth in an annular Zone to leave a centralvcore portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit .adapted to -be.de tacliably connected .to Asaid bit; vatubular core-receivingmemberin'said drive unit .and providing a lowerend ladapted to receive saidcore portion as drilling `progresses and an upper .end .havingan.opening adapted to expel said c ore .said .tubular core-receivingmember is straight and in whichsaidixed wall provides an opening of vasize to receive .said `upper end of said corereeeining member, said`core-receiving member being Withdrawable .from the lower end of saiddrive unit when said bit is detached from Said drive unit and saidcore-receiving member is released byfsaid connecting means.

f3. r`Apparatus for drilling into the earth Within lawrence rotarybitproviding means for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave acentral core portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit providingmeans for detachably connecting same to said bit; a tubularcore-receiving member in said drive unit and providing a lower endadapted to receive said core portion as drilling progresses and an upperend having an opening adapted to expel said core portion and having athreadedportion; and a box-like exit unit carried by said drive unit andproviding an exit opening communicating with the exterior of said driveunit and providing an entrance opening threadedly receiving saidthreaded portion of said corereceiving member to permit unscrewing andlwithdrawal of said core-receiving member from rotary bit providingmeans for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a centralcore portion, said apparatus including: a tubular drive unit for saidbit, said drive unit including a longitudinal passage for conducting tosaid bit a cutting fluid; a box-like exit unit xed to said drive unitand extending inwardly into said longitudinal passage from one side ofsaid tubular drive unit to leave a portion of said longitudinal passageopen for conducting said cutting iiuid, said exit unit including a lowerwall extending inward from said one side of said tubular drive unit; atubular core-receiving member within said longitudinal passage toprovide an annular space for vconducting said cutting fluid toward saidbit, said core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receivesaid core portion as drilling progresses and providing an upper end fromwhich said core portion is expelled; and means vfor detachablyconnecting said upper end to said lower wall with said upper end in opencommunication with the interior of said exit unit to discharge said coreportion thereinto, said exit unit providing an exit opening for thematerial of said core portion, i

6. An apparatus as deiined in claim 5, in which said exit opening ofsaid exit unit communicates with the exterior of said drive unit, and inwhich said exit unit includes an angled wall extending angularly from aposition above said lowerwall to said exit opening tobe contacted bysaid core portion in a manner to disintegrate same and .produce coreparticles, said core particles being discharged from said exit opening.

'7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said drive unitincludes a side opening communicating with the exterior of said driveunit and of larger size than said exit opening of said exit unit,

' and in which said box-like exit unit provides a first portion of asize to t in said side opening and a second portion extending into saidlongitudinal passage, said first portion of said exit unit being securedin said side opening as the exclusive support for said exit unit, saidexit unit being secured in said side opening by being welded to` saiddrive unit adjacent the periphery of said side opening. Y

8. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providingmeans-for cutting into the earth in an annular zoneto leave a centralcore portion; said apparatus including: a drive; unit providing'meansfor detachably connecting same to said bit, said drive unit includingalongitudinal passage and a sidewardly-facing exit opening; a relatively-massive wall :member secured to said drive unit and yextendingsubstantially transversely of said longitudinal passage, Vsaid wallmember incompletely blocking saidlongitudinal passage and providingwalls bounding a passage means throughvwhich cutting fluid may iiowtoward4 said bit; a tubular core-receiving member Vadapted for insertioninto said longitudinal passage of saiddrive unit from its lower end tocooperate with said drive unit in providing a iiuidconducting spacecommunicating with said passage means to conduct said cutting iiuid tosaid bit, said tubular core-receiving member providing av lower endadapted to receive said core portion asvdrilling progresses and an upperend providing an opening adapted to expel said core portion;interengaging means on the upper end of said core-receiving member andsaid massive Wall member for removably securing said core-receiving.member to said relatively massive wall member, said interengaging meansbeing releasable by movement of said lower end. of said core-receivingmember relative to said drive unit; and wall means providing a chamber`communicating between said opening of said upper end of saidcore-receiving member and said sidewardlyfacing exit opening of saiddrive unit to conduct the material of said core portion from the formerto the latter.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said relatively massivewall member provides an opening of sufcient size to receive said upperend of said tubular core-receiving member, and in which saidinterengaging means for removably securing said core-receiving member tosaid wall member includes means for connecting said upper end iniiuid-tight relationship with said kwall member at the junction ofv saidupper end and said wall member.

10. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providingmeans for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a centralcore portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit including means forconnecting same to said bit, said drive unit including a longitudinalpassage and a sidewardly-facing exit opening extending from saidlongitudinal passage to the exterior of said drive unit; a tubularcore-receiving member of a size to extend along said longitudinalpassage and to cooperate with said drive unit in providing aduid-conducting space for conducting cutting uid to said bit, saidtubular core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receivesaidcore portion as drilling progresses and an upper end having anopening adapted to expel the material of said core portion; an exit unitsecured to said drive unit and extending into said longitudinal passagefrom the .vicinity of saidl exit opening of said drive unit, said exitunit including walls dening a passage means for conducting said cuttinguid past said exit unit to said fluidconducting space, said exit unitincluding an opening of a size to receive said tubular core-receivingmember, said exit unit including a chamber extending sidewardly fromsaid opening of Said upper end of said core-receiving member tosaid'sidewardly-facing exit opening of said drive unit to conduct thematerial of said core portion sidewardly from said drive unit; and meansfor removably securing said tubular core-receiving member to said exitunit with said upper end of said core-receiving member in said openingof said exit unit.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which said means forremovably securing said tubular core-receiving member to said exit unitincludes interengaging means on said core-receiving member and said exitunit and engageable when said core-receiving member is inserted into thelower end of said drive unit, said interengaging means beingdisengageable by movement of the lower end of said core-receiving memberrelative to said drive unit.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said lower end of saidtubular core-receiving member is positioned within the lowerend of saiddrive unit when said interengaging means are engaged, and in which saidlower end of said tubular core-receiving member provides tool-receivingmeans facilitating disengagement of said interengaging means to releasesaid core-receiving member with its contained core portion.

13. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providingmeans for cutting into the earth in an annular zone to leave a centralcore portion, said apparatus including: a drive unit including means fordetachably connecting same to said bit, said drive unit including alongitudinal passage and a sidewardly-facing exit opening; a tubularcore-receiving member of a size to extend along said longitudinalpassage and to cooperate with said drive unit in providing auidconducting space for conducting cutting fluid to said bit, saidtubular core-receiving member providing a lower end adapted to receivesaid core portion as drilling progresses and an upper end' having anopening adapted to expel the material of said core portion; and meansfor removably suspending said tubular core-receiving member in saidlongitudinal passage, said means including an exit unit secured to saiddrive unit and extending into said longitudinal passage from thevicinity of said exit opening of said drive unit, said exit unitincluding a relatively massive wall, said means including interengagingmeans on said relatively massive wall and said core-receiving member tobe moved into engagement to suspend said core-receiving member in saidlongitudinal passage, said exit unit including a chamber extending fromsaid opening of said upper end of said core-receiving member andsidewardly to said exit opening of said drive unit to conduct thematerial of said core portion sidewardly from said drive unit.

14. Apparatus for drilling into the earth with a rotary bit providingmeans for cutting into the earth in an vannular zone to leave a centralcore portion, said apparatus including: a tubular drive unit for saidbit, said drive unit including a longitudinal passage for conducting tosaid bit a cutting fluid; a box-like exit unit carried by said driveunit and extending inwardly into said longitudinal passage from one sideof said tubular drive unit to leave a portion of said longitudinal Ipassage open for conducting said cutting iiuid, said exit unit includinga pair of side walls, a bottom wall extending between said side wallsand a curved wall extending between said side walls to deiine a chamberhaving an exit opening communicating with the exterior of said driveunit, said curved wall curving upwardly and outwardly from said bottomwall to said exit opening; and a tubular core-receiving member withinsaid longitudinal passage to provide an annular space for conductingsaid cutting iiuid toward said bit, said core-receiving member providinga lower end adapted to receive said core portion as drilling progressesand an upper end communicating with the interior of said exit unit todischarge said core portion thereinto.

15. An apparatus as dened in claim 5, including means for detachablyconnecting the upper end of said core-receiving member and said bottomWall to permit removal of said core-receiving member from said driveunit while containing said core portion.

MANLEY L. NATLAND. HOWARD A. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,644,947 Phipps Oct. 11, 19271,756,503 Baker Apr. 29, 1930 1,785,120 Harding Dec. 16, 1930 1,785,405Candee et al Dec. 16, 1930 1,867,024 Oliver July 12, 1932 2,306,491Noble etal Dec. 29, 1942

